UA Local 170

What UA Local 170 does

UA Local 170, legally the United Association of Journeymen & Apprentices of the Plumbing & Pipe Fitting Industry of the US & Canada, Local 170, is a chartered labor union founded on November 18, 1898 by 17 Vancouver plumbers. It represents approximately 4,000 apprentices and journeypersons in British Columbia working in six Red Seal trades: plumbing, steamfitting/pipefitting, sprinkler fitting, gasfitting (A and B), instrumentation & control technology, and welding. The local is affiliated with the United Association of Journeymen & Apprentices of the Plumbing & Pipe Fitting Industry of the US & Canada (UA International), which represents 340,000 members across North America, and operates under UA Canada, which represents 57,000 Canadian members.

The union operates a workforce development and labor-dispatch ecosystem rather than a technology platform. Service offerings include apprenticeship and journeyman training through the affiliated UA Piping Industry College of BC (UAPICBC), health and welfare benefits administration, pension plan management, a Supplemental Unemployment Benefit (SUB) plan paying $120/week, scholarship programs, a UA Member's Assistance Program, and a members-only portal for dispatch and account management. Job placement occurs through a centralized dispatch system matching qualified members to signatory contractors across BC, supported by regional business agents in the Lower Mainland, Okanagan, Kootenays, Central Interior, Northwest, Vancouver Island, and Sunshine Coast/Whistler regions.

Revenue is generated through recurring monthly membership dues paid by ~4,000 members, with additional ancillary income from training programs and member services. The union serves a horizontal mix of individual tradespeople (members) and institutional signatory contractors (100+ collective agreements) spanning industrial construction (Fluor, Modern Niagara), shipbuilding (Vancouver Shipyards), fabrication (Ideal Welders, 101 Industries), government infrastructure (BCIB), and institutional education (Simon Fraser University, Vancouver School Board). The 147-employee organization is headquartered in Delta, BC, and is governed by elected officers led by Business Manager & Financial Secretary A.D. Al Phillips.

Name

UA Local 170

Legal name

United Association of Journeymen & Apprentices of the Plumbing & PipeFitting Industry of the US & Canada, Local 170

Website

https://ualocal170.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1898

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

UA Local 170 is a 127-year-old chartered labor union representing approximately 4,000 apprentices and journeypersons in British Columbia across six Red Seal piping trades, providing training, benefits, and dispatch services through 100+ signatory contractors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Labor Union Services

NAICS

Apprenticeship Training (611513), Specialty Trade Contractors (238)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Pipefitting & Steamfitting (EDAOACAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Welding Codes, Safety & Compliance Training (AWS/ASME/OSHA) (EDAOADAG)

Keywords

• Labor union representation
• Trade apprenticeship training
• Pipe trades workforce
• Collective bargaining services
• Member benefits administration

Headquarters

HQ city

Delta

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Union Membership Dues: UA Local 170 generates revenue through membership dues paid by its approximately 4,000 apprentices and journeyperson members. Members pay dues in exchange for union representation, collective bargaining, training programs, health and welfare benefits administration, pension plans, and job placement services through the dispatch system.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

UA Local 170 is a chartered labor union that represents approximately 4,000 apprentices and journeypersons in British Columbia across six Red Seal trades (plumbing, steamfitting/pipefitting, sprinklerfitting, gasfitting A and B, instrumentation & control technicians, and welding). It sells union membership, which provides collective bargaining representation, job dispatch through a centralized system, apprenticeship and journeyman training via the UA Piping Industry College of BC (UAPICBC), and administration of health & welfare, pension, supplemental unemployment, and scholarship benefits.

Product overview

UA Local 170 operates as a labor union representing approximately 4,000 apprentices and journeypersons in British Columbia working in Red Seal trades including plumbing, steamfitting, sprinklerfitting, gasfitting, instrumentation, and welding. Rather than a technology platform, the organization provides union services including apprenticeship training through the UA Piping Industry College of BC, health and welfare benefits administration, pension plans, scholarship programs, and member portal access. The portfolio centers on trade workforce development and member support services rather than commercial products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• UA Piping Industry College of BC (UAPICBC): Training college providing four year apprenticeship programs, extensive journeyman training, and numerous certification programs for pipe trades

Products and services

• UA Piping Industry College of BC (UAPICBC) Training Programs Apprenticeship and journeyman training programs delivered through the UA Piping Industry College of BC, providing Red Seal trade certification across plumbing, steamfitting, sprinklerfitting, welding, gasfitting, and instrumentation for union members and prospective apprentices.
• Health & Welfare and Pension Benefits Health and welfare benefits, pension plans, extended healthcare, dental, life insurance, MSP, and member assistance programs for eligible union members and their dependents.
• Scholarship Programs Scholarship awards supporting higher education for union members and their dependents, including UA Local 170 scholarships ($2,500 each), UBC affiliation scholarships ($1,000 each), and the J. Russell St. Eloi UA Scholarship.
• COMET (Construction Organizing Membership Education Training) Construction Organizing Membership Education Training course designed to strengthen union members' understanding of organizing, recruitment, and membership development within the construction industry.
• Supplemental Unemployment Benefit Plan Supplemental Unemployment Benefit (SUB) plan providing $120/week top-up payments to qualifying members who are collecting Employment Insurance benefits during periods between dispatch.

Quantifiable outcome

• Workers have logged more than 7.5 million paid hours on CBA projects with 94% of hours worked by British Columbians
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• UA Piping Industry College of BC (UAPICBC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUA Local 170 partners with UAPICBC to provide world-class training programs including four-year apprenticeship programs, extensive journeyman training, and numerous certification programs for members.
• UA CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization representing 57,000 members in Canada. UA Local 170 is affiliated with UA Canada and the broader UA organization of 340,000 members across North America.
• BC Building TradescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUA Local 170 Business Manager Al Phillips serves as President of BC Building Trades. Partnership promotes union construction and advocates for workers on CBA/PLA projects.
• BC Federation of LabourmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUA Local 170 is affiliated with BC Fed. Al Phillips serves as Vice-President and Jeff Chapman as Executive Council member. Partnership in labor advocacy and workers' rights.
• Signatory Contractors (100+ companies)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOver 100 construction companies including Vancouver Shipyards, Fluor, Modern Niagara, Ideal Welders have collective agreements with UA Local 170 and employ union members.
• Western Canada Pipe Trades AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional association representing pipe trades interests across Western Canada. Trevor Robertson serves as President.
• BC Provincial Pipe Trades AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvincial association for pipe trades. A.D. Al Phillips serves as President, Jason Amesbury as Treasurer.
• Pacific Region Maintenance Council (PRMC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnion-maintenance council partnership for ongoing maintenance work agreements covering members.
• Community Benefits Agreements (CBA) / Project Labour Agreements (PLA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBA and PLA agreements ensure local workers benefit from public infrastructure investments, provide apprenticeship opportunities, and guarantee no labor disruptions.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• International Union of Operating Engineers Local 115 (Burnaby): Heavy-equipment operators union covering BC, with similar dispatch, training, and signatory-contractor model. A direct comparable in scale and BC-level construction trade union structure, though focused on operating engineers rather than piping trades.
• UA Local 46 (Toronto): Largest UA pipe trades local in Canada, covering Ontario with a similar six-trade scope and UAPICBC-equivalent training infrastructure. A direct peer in scale (members in the thousands), governance structure, and employer relationships, but anchored in a much larger Ontario construction market.
• UA Local 488 (Edmonton): UA pipe trades local covering Alberta and parts of Saskatchewan with similar scope (plumbing, pipefitting, welding, gasfitting). Structurally identical to UA Local 170 with comparable member services, training pipelines, and dispatch model, but operating in a different provincial construction market.
• IBEW Local 213 (Vancouver): International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers local in BC, providing electrical apprenticeship training and dispatch to signatory contractors. Comparable in structure, governance model, and BC-based member services, but serving electricians rather than piping trades.
• Ironworkers Local 97 (Burnaby): BC ironworkers union representing structural and reinforcing ironworkers. A natural peer in BC construction trade union structure, signatory contractor relationships, and training/apprenticeship programs, but serving a different skilled trade.
• Heat & Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 118: BC mechanical-insulation trade union, structurally analogous to UA Local 170 with dispatch, apprenticeship, and signatory contractor relationships. A direct peer in BC unionized mechanical trades, though operating in a smaller mechanical-insulation specialty.
• Sheet Metal Workers Local 280 (Burnaby): BC sheet metal workers union with similar training, dispatch, and signatory contractor structure. A direct peer in BC construction trade union operations, though serving a different mechanical trade.

Regional players

• BC Building Trades Council: Provincial council of construction unions in BC, of which UA Local 170 is a member. Operates as an umbrella body for industry advocacy, CBA/PLA promotion, and apprenticeship coordination rather than directly competing for dispatch; relevant peer for governance and political influence.

Broad incumbents

• UA Canada: National umbrella body for 57,000 UA members across Canada. Provides national-level coordination, programs (e.g., National Parental Wellness Program), and advocacy that filter down to UA Local 170 and similar Canadian UA locals.
• United Association (UA International): International parent organization representing 340,000 plumbers, pipefitters, welders, and sprinkler fitters across North America. The parent charter of UA Local 170 and the broader UA network, providing portability, national training standards, and bargaining infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ualocal170
• Facebookfacebook.com/ualocal170
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ualocal170
• Instagraminstagram.com/ualocal170

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about UA Local 170